Er... okay, as the title indicates, this is a rather huge subject to tackle, and I hardly know where to begin. I am mainly looking for advice from people who have done this (and there's a good chance this conversation will move into NB exchanges if people are willing).
My situation is thus: I am an American citizen hoping to move, ultimately, to the UK - ideally to the wotmania capital of the world, Edinburgh. Thing is, my connection to Europe lives in Belgium, not Scotland. 
Good plan. If Paul comes, too, you can cross Belgium off the map and concentrate on us
As I understand it, there are three basic ways of obtaining a visa to live in another country:
A) Work visa.
(Not really likely because the employer has to sponsor you, and I am not a professional right now. I would have to find an international company with a strong base in Edinburgh, then hope that they eventually offered me a position something there. Could literally take five years or so. Not willing to wait that long, but very willing to take this route if someone can suggest other ways to make it work.)
B) Fiance visa.
C) Studying abroad.
(Tough. My academic standing could be better... but more importantly, I don't have the money to pay for tuition over there. How do British universities handle grad students? Is there a tuition waiver/stipend, or is that only for citizens?)
Tuition here is on the whole much cheaper than in the US, though. University of Edinburgh is around 10000 pounds a year for us non-lab people (you are a non-lab person, right?).
There are scholarships, but they are hard to come by. There are some particularly for Americans, though. And I am sure there are a number of foundations set up, outside the individual university, that help Americans to study here.
Okay, so basically I would really like to hear about people's different experiences with each of these three options. Or, if they found another way, obviously I want to hear that too. 
In survey form:
1) Have you ever done this? If so, which way did you go?
Well, I am currently studying here. But I don't need a visa, so my case is a bit different.
If not, would you consider it? - and skip to question 9, please.
2) How long did the process take you, from start to finish? (Let's say that finish = spouse visa or some other form of semi-permanent resident standing.)
3) How much, roughly, did it cost you?
Shitloads. Universities in Norway cost 40 pounds a year. This is insanely expensive in my book.
4) What was the most difficult part about adjusting to life in a foreign country?
Living far away from Tor?
And the insane British bureaucracy. Seriously. They take it to an art form. An evil, evil art form.
And the banks are nuts.
5) How did you go about moving your possessions?
The first time I did it on a boat. It worked well. This time I have done it bit by bit, making Tor carry it with me a little every time we went home.
6) How did you go about finding a place to live when the desired city/location was many miles away?
I used the university this time. I rented private accommodations via Grant Management last time, and I am NEVER ever doing that again. At least when there is a problem with university accommodation, there is a system for you to fall back on.
7) Did you invest in any kind of professional assistance? (Immigration lawyer, accountant, moving company...) Do you think that was worth the extra costs?
I have Tor
Don't need to pay anyone.
8 ) What's one thing you really, really wish someone had told you ahead of time?
Never EVER use Grant Management. Or Lloyds.
9) If you moved to a country with a language different from your mother tongue, how long did it take to achieve fluency? (And what level of proficiency did you start with?) - Am happy to hear answers from people who have just studied or lived abroad for a bit, too.
I already spoke English. But in my experience, any language can be learnt fairly well in a few months if you expose yourself to it enough.
10) Which domestic products do you miss the most when traveling or away from home?
IFA (salty licorice), gløgg (chistmas drink), marzipan (the danish kind), proper tasting meat (British meat doesn't actually taste anything)...
11) Which more intangible things do you miss, if anything? (For example: climate, or a general sense of space, or social norms, like the basic level of friendliness between strangers.)
snow?
I like the British way of relating to people, and I miss that more when I am in Norway than the other way around.
12) This is kind of a fun hypothetical question. Let's say you're romantically involved with someone, but you haven't been able to live together long term because you are separated by geography. The simplest way to fix this is to get engaged and have a civil ceremony for marriage. But, you've always been of the opinion that people should live together (ideally for a good long time) before getting married. Would you go for it, or would you back away slowly from the insanity?
That must be entirely your choice, I think. Marriage isn't the deal it once was, though. Unless you are a Catholic. If it doesn't work, it can be dissolved. That isn't a very romantic way of looking at it, I suppose, but it is a way.
Thank you so much, in advance, to anyone who answers. I know I'm not the only Rafonaut who will benefit from your replies. 
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
/survey: moving across the ocean & international borders. 12 easy questions. (...yes, am joking.)
- 28/11/2009 04:27:21 AM
579 Views
Answers, of a kind.
- 28/11/2009 12:48:34 PM
541 Views
Re: Answers, of a kind.
- 28/11/2009 05:48:04 PM
497 Views
Re: Answers, of a kind.
- 28/11/2009 07:12:08 PM
475 Views
Re: Answers, of a kind.
- 30/11/2009 02:12:08 AM
468 Views
Generally quite true, but let me add one or two qualifications.
- 30/11/2009 02:21:33 AM
450 Views
Here's that ranking, if you're curious.
- 30/11/2009 02:27:37 AM
571 Views
Re: Generally quite true, but let me add one or two qualifications.
- 30/11/2009 02:53:48 AM
467 Views